53 - 2017-12-13 - Final 2017 Blog Post
This final blog post of 2017 is a wrap up of how The Pollinator Potager Project panned out and what I learned during the process. It's also a chance for me to thank all those who helped to make this year-long garden experiment a wonderful success.
52 - 2017-12-08 - Two Peas in a Potager
This blog post is a about giving voice and vision to family dynamics and commemorating new additions, sad losses, and special occasions in the form of a holiday tree ornament. It's also a chance to send best wishes to new and faithful blog readers.
51 - 2017-12-07 - Leaf Mulch
This blog post is about a miscommunication concerning the mulching of leaves, and the ingenuity and teamwork involved in correcting the mistake.
50 - 2017-11-10 - C-c-c-cold Weather
This blog post is about anticipation of high winds, cold temperatures and snow; and of preparing the garden for the winter yet to come.
49 - 2017-11-09 - Our Pepper Project
This blog post is about our sweet bell pepper harvest, and our surprising discovery when they were finally ready to eat.
48 - 2017-11-07 - Rain Collection Garden
This blog post is about the new rain-water collection garden I've created out of left-over river-rock and broken flagstones. It's a lovely way to provide habitat for plants requiring a more moist environment and a water source for pollinating insects.
47 - 2017-11-05 - Planting Garlic
This blog post is about my experimental garlic crop, planted late in the year for maturation and harvest as early as mid-July.
46 - 2017-10-30 - Harvesting Herbs
This blog post is about the pleasure of growing herbs and of their usefulness both in and out of the garden.
45 - 2017-10-17 - Swiss Chard
This blog post is about my problems growing seeded lettuce and kale, and the delicious ways one can enjoy garden fresh Swiss chard - Easy delicious recipe included!
44 - 2017-10-15 - Braided Onions
This blog post is about the pioneer practice of braiding onions and of a special full-circle moment in my life.
43 - 2017-10-14 - Meager Harvest
This blog post is a reflection on the great learning experience and tremendous fun found in a meager harvest, and of looking forward to next year.
42 - 2017-10-13 - MHHS Member
This blog post is about my becoming a member of the Mount Hamilton Horticultural Society; and, my belief that I have found a good fit, where I can share my love of gardening with friendly welcoming and like-minded people.
41 - 2017-10-05 - Global Warming
This blog post is about how a forsythia bush blooming in my garden during the first week of October has reinforced my personal belief that global warming is likely very serious.
40 - 2017-09-30 - Recycling Stumps
This blog post is a juxtaposition of the recycling of found objects vs buying similar "new".
39 - 2017-09-27 - Cucumber Confusion
This blog post is about a cucumber harvest, likely afflicted with a genetic mutation, that scuttled my plan for home-grown dill pickles; but, gave me something positive in return.
38 - 2017-09-14 - Simple Gifts
This blog post is a thank-you to a generous lady who gifts us with her time, good humour and simple gifts, including plants for our garden for which we are truly grateful.
37 - 2017-09-13 - Potager Protegees
This blog post is a tribute to my Potager Protegees, and what they bring to my gardening experience.
36 - 2017-09-12 - Goldenrod
This blog post is about a beautiful floral display and of correcting a common misconception that has gone on far too long.
35 - 2017-09-08 - Finally
This blog post is about the delight of finally biting into a delicious home-grown tomato sandwich.
34 - 2017-09-01 - The Ripening
This blog post is about the long-awaited ripening of my home-grown tomatoes, and the optimism is takes to survive the process.
This final blog post of 2017 is a wrap up of how The Pollinator Potager Project panned out and what I learned during the process. It's also a chance for me to thank all those who helped to make this year-long garden experiment a wonderful success.
52 - 2017-12-08 - Two Peas in a Potager
This blog post is a about giving voice and vision to family dynamics and commemorating new additions, sad losses, and special occasions in the form of a holiday tree ornament. It's also a chance to send best wishes to new and faithful blog readers.
51 - 2017-12-07 - Leaf Mulch
This blog post is about a miscommunication concerning the mulching of leaves, and the ingenuity and teamwork involved in correcting the mistake.
50 - 2017-11-10 - C-c-c-cold Weather
This blog post is about anticipation of high winds, cold temperatures and snow; and of preparing the garden for the winter yet to come.
49 - 2017-11-09 - Our Pepper Project
This blog post is about our sweet bell pepper harvest, and our surprising discovery when they were finally ready to eat.
48 - 2017-11-07 - Rain Collection Garden
This blog post is about the new rain-water collection garden I've created out of left-over river-rock and broken flagstones. It's a lovely way to provide habitat for plants requiring a more moist environment and a water source for pollinating insects.
47 - 2017-11-05 - Planting Garlic
This blog post is about my experimental garlic crop, planted late in the year for maturation and harvest as early as mid-July.
46 - 2017-10-30 - Harvesting Herbs
This blog post is about the pleasure of growing herbs and of their usefulness both in and out of the garden.
45 - 2017-10-17 - Swiss Chard
This blog post is about my problems growing seeded lettuce and kale, and the delicious ways one can enjoy garden fresh Swiss chard - Easy delicious recipe included!
44 - 2017-10-15 - Braided Onions
This blog post is about the pioneer practice of braiding onions and of a special full-circle moment in my life.
43 - 2017-10-14 - Meager Harvest
This blog post is a reflection on the great learning experience and tremendous fun found in a meager harvest, and of looking forward to next year.
42 - 2017-10-13 - MHHS Member
This blog post is about my becoming a member of the Mount Hamilton Horticultural Society; and, my belief that I have found a good fit, where I can share my love of gardening with friendly welcoming and like-minded people.
41 - 2017-10-05 - Global Warming
This blog post is about how a forsythia bush blooming in my garden during the first week of October has reinforced my personal belief that global warming is likely very serious.
40 - 2017-09-30 - Recycling Stumps
This blog post is a juxtaposition of the recycling of found objects vs buying similar "new".
39 - 2017-09-27 - Cucumber Confusion
This blog post is about a cucumber harvest, likely afflicted with a genetic mutation, that scuttled my plan for home-grown dill pickles; but, gave me something positive in return.
38 - 2017-09-14 - Simple Gifts
This blog post is a thank-you to a generous lady who gifts us with her time, good humour and simple gifts, including plants for our garden for which we are truly grateful.
37 - 2017-09-13 - Potager Protegees
This blog post is a tribute to my Potager Protegees, and what they bring to my gardening experience.
36 - 2017-09-12 - Goldenrod
This blog post is about a beautiful floral display and of correcting a common misconception that has gone on far too long.
35 - 2017-09-08 - Finally
This blog post is about the delight of finally biting into a delicious home-grown tomato sandwich.
34 - 2017-09-01 - The Ripening
This blog post is about the long-awaited ripening of my home-grown tomatoes, and the optimism is takes to survive the process.
33 - 2017-08-27 - Eyes of a Child
This blog post is about our first attempt at growing potatoes, and of experiencing the magic through the eyes of a child.
32 - 2017-08-25 - 1st Cucumber
This blog post is about our first attempt at growing potatoes, and of experiencing the magic through the eyes of a child.
32 - 2017-08-25 - 1st Cucumber
This blog post is about growing Pickling Cucumbers from seed, and the hope of making at least one bottle of home-grown dill pickles, from scratch.
31 - 2017-08-22 - Sprinkler Fun
This blog post is a look back at the innocence of childhood and the simple joy found in a garden sprinkler.
30 - 2017-08-20 - Garden Sweethearts
29 - 2017-08-15 - Busy Bee
This blog post is a look back at the innocence of childhood and the simple joy found in a garden sprinkler.
30 - 2017-08-20 - Garden Sweethearts
This blog post is about my garden sweethearts: Both the cherry tomato and husband varieties.
29 - 2017-08-15 - Busy Bee
This blog post is about a pretty picture of a busy bee, intent on pollination as it hovers over a fragrant butterfly bush flower.
This blog post is a about tomato predators, their 5-yr-old admirer, and my ongoing quest for a home-grown fresh and juicy tomato sandwich.
27 - 2017-07-30 - Tucking-In
This blog post is about how hard work, careful planting and providing the necessities of life seem to be encouraging solitary bees to visit our experimental bee oasis and roomy hotel.
26 - 2017-07-25 - Growing & Giving
This blog post is about the good feeling derived from the collection of seeds and their role in the giving of gifts.This blog post is about how hard work, careful planting and providing the necessities of life seem to be encouraging solitary bees to visit our experimental bee oasis and roomy hotel.
26 - 2017-07-25 - Growing & Giving
25 - 2017-07-22 - Deep Root Watering
This blog post is about using deep root watering spikes and recycled pop bottles to keep my tomatoes consistently watered, in the hope they don't succumb to last year's bottom end rot.
24 - 2017-07-19 - Tour Wrap-Up
This blog post is an wrap-up of our participation in the Hamilton Spectator's 25th Anniversary Open Garden Week, the discovery of a joyful spirit of camaraderie with other gardeners and lovers of gardens; and, of becoming part of a worthwhile endeavor.
23 - 2017-07-18 - Choosing Delight
This blog post is about the natural ability of child gardeners to choose delight over disappointment when facing adversity, a philosophy, I'm going to try to mirror.
22 - 2017-07-05 - Spectator Special
This blog post is a link to the Hamilton Spectator special, "Masters of the art of full frontal gardening." Written by Garden Writer, Rob Howard and photographed by Barry Gray, it's a feature article about our front and side garden Pollinator Potager Project.
21 - 2017-07-04 - Open Garden Week
This blog post is an invitation, to join Doug and I for a tour of our front and side Pollinator Potager Project as part of the Hamilton Spectator's 2017 Open Garden Tour
20 - 2017-06-29 - Butterflies & Bees
This blog post is about a family-friendly all-ages game that I crafted for use in our front garden.
19 - 2017-06-21 - The Fence and Path
This blog post is about how an irritating negative can become a soothing positive, by the letting go of destructive obsession and inviting change.
18 - 2017-06-17 - The Tidy Up
This blog post is about making a positive commitment to the natural environment, and how a place of great turmoil can be a sanctuary: Both arduous and enjoyable. Ironically, I'm finding this place of great turmoil to be a sanctuary of sorts.
17 - 2017-06-11 - Thief
This blog post is about my disappointment and frustration at the hands/paws/claws of a surreptitious thief, and my search for solutions to the problem.
16 - 2017-06-06 - Transplanting
This blog post is about the catharsis achieved by nurturing tiny seeds you’ve planted and tended, through to their growing big enough to be moved to larger pots or straight into the ground out of doors.
This blog post is about the catharsis achieved by nurturing tiny seeds you’ve planted and tended, through to their growing big enough to be moved to larger pots or straight into the ground out of doors.
15 - 2017-05-26 - Tomāto, Tomăto
This blog post is about my seedling tomatoes and their journey from the greenhouse window in my kitchen to food-safe pots outdoors on my front porch.
14 - 2017-05-24 - Organic Strawberries
This blog post is about the growing of organic strawberries and the anticipation of sweet sustenance they're soon to provide.
13 - 2017-05-20 - Crop of Spuds
This blog post is about the growing of potatoes and the thrill I get from green leafy potato leaves.
12 - 2017-05-18 - Preparations
This blog post is about the necessity of re-planting seedlings due to my over-eagerness to get going on garden preparations.
11 - 2017-05-11 - Planting Journal
This blog post is an introduction to the new Planting Journal included as a tabbed page link in The Pollinator Potager Project; and, an offer to share exploration and implementation.
10 - 2017-04-28 - Cross Species Cooperative
This blog post speaks to the value of sharing valuable resources and of the crocus as a source of colour and sustenance.
09 - 2017-04-26 - Mel's Sq. Ft. Garden
This blog post contains the link to my article in today's Hamilton Spectator. It's about enterprising retired engineer, Mel Bartholomew, who in the 1980's dared to suggest that there might be a better way to design and maintain a garden.
08 - 2017-04-22 - Earth Day
This blog post gives a brief overview of my introduction to Earth Day, through my involvement with a dedicated group of political activists who taught me about the benefits of environmental sustainability and social justice.
07 - 2017-04-18 - The Potager
This blog post is about the history and future of the potager or kitchen garden.
06 - 2017-04-13 - Greenhouse Window
This blog post is a thank you to my marvelous husband who created form and function in a south-facing window void!
05 - 2017-04-11 - Budding Gardener
This blog post is about investing in the future ... helping a 5-yr-old learn about and share in the planting and growing of food she will one day eat.
04 - 2017-04-04 - Dandelions
This blog post is a celebration of the flower oft' condemned as a lowly weed: The dandelion.
03 - 2017-04-01 - Seedy Saturday
This blog post is a thank you to my sister Jennifer for her willingness to share her gardening knowledge and her time with me as I prepare for spring planting.
02 - 2017-03-30 - Rain Boots
This blog post is about the search for comfortable garden worthy rain boots; and, the undeniably happy anticipation of gardening, even in the gooey mud of spring.
01 - 2017-03-26 - The Beginning
My husband, Doug,
and I have been on a tremendously positive gardening journey. With that
in mind, I've decided to launch a new blog to document the ongoing
transformation of our former front lawn into what I'm calling a
Pollinator Potager (paw-toe-jay) Garden. This blog is my way of blending two of my recreational passions - writing and gardening. And so, I
welcome you to The Pollinator Potager Project. I hope you'll also enjoy
the journey; And if you feel so inclined, please leave feedback in the
Contact Form. I'd love to hear from you!
